What Are Your Farming Questions?

by Ethan Book

on 05/15/08 at 11:59 AM

With roughly only 2% of the American population directly involved in an agricultural related job, and the fact that most people are 4 or more generations removed from the farm, I find that people have lots of questions about farming and where their food comes from. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun/interesting to have you ask some questions. I will spend some time answering them in future posts.

So, what have you always wondered? What doesn't make sense to you? What do you think would make you an informed consumer? I will get the ball rolling with a question that I often hear.

I am often asked, "Is there any money in farming?" Or better yet, I am often told, "There is no money in farming." This seems to be one of the most common questions/comments that I hear, and for the most part it is difficult to answer. On one hand, I could easily admit that there is no money in farming, especially if you are trying to start with nothing and become part of the industrial agriculture commodity market (corn, beans, beef, pork, etc.). Government subsidies play a large part in the farming industry and can make the difference of ending up in the red or black some years. So, yes there is no money in farming if you look at it that way.

But, I like to look at things from a different angle. I believe that if you are farming differently than the "common knowledge" of industrial agriculture and are directly marketing to the consumers, you can make a living in farming and provide great food. The money in this kind of farming isn't enough to make you rich in "stuff", but it is enough to provide for a family and enjoy life.

It's not a get-rich-quick business, but it can be profitable and very rewarding.

My burning question: when a small conventional/commodity farmer is facing decreasing profits, what are the obstacles keeping him from reverting to diversified farming? Why more farmers aren't making this switch rather than getting out of farming altogether?

play_with_food
06:56:34 AM on
05/16/08

I guess my question is more practical. Since farming carries 24/7 responsibilities (like being a parent) how do you find the time to get away and relax?

r5bales
07:25:08 PM on
05/15/08

There is a joke farmers tell each other. They laugh because they know it is true.

A doctor, a lawyer and a farmer die and go to heaven. St Peter tells then they have to come up with $500,000. to get in. The doctor and lawyer both tell Peter to let them call their investment guy, and they will get it. The farmer says,"No Problem, Where are the loan papers?"

r5bales
07:17:44 PM on
05/15/08

I am married to a farmer near Phoenix Az. I grew up as a farmer kid. It is my experience that the grandparent's farm with goats, chickens, cows, corn, wheat, etc doesn't really exist as a money making business. Those are usually what I term hobby farms.

In order to keep the business going, we have had to focus less one one crop as the price goes down, for example, the cotton price is really low, so we filled a need in the community by growing alfalfa for horse owners. Our product is not as labor intensive as the vegetable growers.

Vegetable growers have to have crews of 30 or so people to get a crop lettuce, for example, in before it spoils. This year several farmers couldn't get the harvest in because they couldn't get the labor. Labor seems to be the biggest issue right now.

If I wanted to become a "farmer" I would probably start with a several acres and start with organic vegetables. Then you could sell at a faramer's market. Organic farming is beoming more and more popular for those farmers who haven't been able to make it in the regular produce areas. It has saved many farmers from bankruptcy.

We are regulated up the wazoo. Ten years ago we used to be able to do the government regulatory paper work in a couple of hours, every two weeks or so.
Now we have had to hire someone 20 hours a week to deal with the paperwork. Farm Bureau is the main farmer's lobby group. They are worth every penny we donate to them.

I am sorry this is such a long post, I hope it has helped you with some of your farmer questions.

esung1
03:51:07 PM on
05/15/08

within the farming community, are there cliques? like farmers who maybe raise cattle (or are they called ranchers and aren't a "farmer"?) along with crops? or farmers who grow only say, corn and soybeans, vs. farmers who grow heirlooms. Hydroponics vs. traditional grow in the field sort of farming, etc.

And maybe a strange question - but are any farmers vegetarians or even vegans? are there any who raise animals for consumption but don't eat animals themselves?

And related to the financial feasibility - do many other farmers, especially young ones like yourself - have additional non-farming income?

brandylytle
02:49:33 PM on
05/15/08

I have a similar question as HungryLizzy. I grew up in a suburban area with no exposure to farm life. For the past five years I have had a commute to work which takes me through a beautiful and predominantly agricultural sea island. Everyday I pass small farms with goats, cows, horses, etc. and often find myself daydreaming of the farm life. I have lofty notions of tending a small organic garden, milking a cow or two, and riding along horse trails in the afternoon. Then I snap back to reality and remind myself that I don't have the first clue of even where to begin. I wonder what it would take to get started on a very small scale. Is it a full time job? What amount of land is needed? Should a person try to work on a farm, say for a summer, to get a feel for the life? Any input you might have would be helpful. I don't know if that is a life I would ever be able to achieve but it doesn't hurt to dream, right?

hungrylizzy
01:02:08 PM on
05/15/08

This goes along with the question you posted and answered about the profitablility of farming. I'm curious what it takes for someone to become a farmer. With fewer people growing up on farms, and thus inheriting the land and knowledge it takes to farm, it seems a nearly impossible feat for someone to get started.

For instance: My father was the last of many generations of farmers of the same piece of land--he went bankrupt and out of business the year I was born. I grew up on the "farm," but wouldn't know the first thing about raising crops or livestock, or how to run the business. The land is now up for sale, zoned for industry. I know my story is far from unique. It seems like we're losing a tradition, and because of the history the small-farming economy it seems like a very difficult sector to "break into" as an outsider or novice.

Are there training programs for young farmers? Ways to purchase farmland and start a business without an existing fortune?

jamescury
12:29:52 PM on
05/15/08

I'm always curious how much interaction a pro farmer has with government agencies--USDA, FDA. Daily? Weekly? Can you choose to operate without certification of any sort--as long as you don't have labels on your products? Do they make your life harder or easier? Etc.